Chefs Challenge a Premiere Toronto Nonprofit Fundraising Event

Last year’s Chef’s Challenge hosted by Gordon Ramsay proved to be one of the premier nonprofit fundraising events in Toronto and  the successful culinary challenge raised $1.1 million for Mount Sinai Hospital. This year it aims to be even better.

MasterCard has teamed up with Mount Sinai Hospital in the second annual Chef’s Challenge: The Ultimate Battle for a Cure with Bobby Flay and all funds raised will benefit lifesaving research and care of women in their daily battle against breast and ovarian cancer.

Chef’s Challenge with Bobby Flay image courtesy of chefschallengeforacure.com

Hosted by celebrity chef Bobby Flay whose resume includes Food Network star, best-selling author and owner of such acclaimed restaurants like Mesa Grill and Bar Americain. Chef Flay will be joined by some of Canada’s own top celebrity chefs including:
–    Toronto area author and caterer Rose Reisman;
–    Food Network Canada star Nadia G;
–    Food Network Canada star Chuck Hughes;
–    Food Network Canada star David Rocco;
–    Food Network Canada star Lynn Crawford;
–    Food Network Canada star Mark McEwan; and
–    Food Network Canada star Massimo Capra.

This is a unique event in that no tickets are being sold and with that line-up they could sell thousands. In order to attend and participate, supporters must register on the website and fundraise for the cause. This means that people have to actively join in on the fundraising to be a part of this amazing evening for Toronto foodies.

The event is open to a maximum of five hundred participants who have raised a minimum of $2,500.00 each to qualify to be in the audience where they will enjoy a five course dinner with wine parings conceived by Chef Bobby Flay. “Members of the audience will also be called upon during the evening to complete table-side challenges for Chef Flay.” Boy meets Toronto.

As added incentive to raise the most funds possible, the top sixty fundraisers “will earn the privilege to show off their culinary skills in the ultimate battle on-stage alongside [our] all-star line up of Food Network Celebrity Chefs and of course under the watchful eye of Chef Bobby Flay.” They will also receive a bag full of incredible goodies, an official apron and hat along with an autographed Bobby Flay book. The top 25 fundraisers will also be invited to a VIP Brunch in a private home on Sunday November 27, 2011 with a guest of your choice. Participating Canadian Celebrity Chefs will be in attendance.

Chef’s Challenge 2011 PSA
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLCZZZ7ts38&feature=player_embedded [/youtube]

The two-day event takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 26-27, 2011. On the day of the event the top sixty will have a pre-battle strategy session where their team leader will assess and assign duties based on the culinary strengths of all teammates. Then media, sponsors and participants will attend a cocktail party serving wine and tasty delights conceived by Bobby Flay. The main event follows the cocktail party and the Challenge is to “create a delicious three-course meal while under the watchful eye of Chef Flay. Each course must be delivered on-time for judging by a select panel of Celebrity Judges. Your meal will be scored on taste, presentation and ability to work in the heat of Chef Flay’s kitchen.”

The Chef’s Challenge was awarded “Best Event Produced for a Charitable Organization in Canada” at the 2011 Canadian Special Events Star Awards. Those participating are working to achieve two dreams: 1) to work alongside and be judgment by some of the top culinary talents in the word; and 2) contribute to the nonprofit fundraising efforts of a great cause.

Bobby Flay Shout Out
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3GRKRCtGnA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.